Gov. Christie talks Sandy: ‘It has not been perfect and it will not be perfect’

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was in Keansburg Tuesday to discuss the state’s plan for a second wave of federal Sandy relief funds — $1.4 billion divvied across a dozen different grant programs.

Christie said the state is choosing to fund programs that had proven effective in the first round of funding. He said new funds wouldn’t help everyone who needed it, but would hopefully reach the ones who needed it most.

“It hasn’t been perfect and it won’t be perfect,” he cautioned. “I can guarantee you that.”

“The single largest reason why I ran for re-election was to finish this job,” Christie said, before being interrupted by a member of the audience hoping to ask him a question.

“Definitely not taking questions,” he responded, before a second person said he, too, wanted to talk to the governor.

The questioners and a few others did meet with Christie and members of his administration after his speech, tucked away in a side room. Others queued up outside to talk with members of his staff, clutching documents and seeking updates on their respective situations, applications, or timelines.

Carla Burdick said she was glad the governor showed up, but she was hoping the new money would move faster.

“I just heard today that it may be May and that’s just too far for me to wait,” said Burdick, a retired librarian who’s staying with her daughter while she waits for grant money to repair her home.

But Burdick says she would wait – she doesn’t have any other choice.